Bathtub rest



United States Patent O 3,210,775 BATHTUB REST Albert M. Jongeneel, 165 Edgewater Drive, Rio Vista, Calif. Filed .lune 24, 1963, Ser. No. 290,039 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to an accessory for a conven- .tional bathtub, and particularly to a devi-ce designed for lthe use by a person taking what is known as a hydraulic massage in a bathtub.

Certain devices are now yon the market by means of which the water in a bathtub is constantly swirled about yor `otherwise agitated while the bather is in the tub. In order `for the bather to obtain the maximum benefits lfrom the hydr-aulic massage given by the agitated water, it is desirable that such bather shall recline in the tub in a perfectly relaxed condition. It is also desirable that the bather, particularly if a woman, be able to keep her hair clear of the water while in Such reclining land relaxed position.

It is, therefore, the major object of this invention to provide a readily portable, back rest device (adapted to be placed in the tub whenever desired) which includes not only a support for the back of the reclining bather, but also a head engaging member arranged to support the head of the bather when in a reclining position, and which member -is disposed so as as keep the head clear of the water in the tub at yall times.

A further object of the invention is to dispose the head engaging member of the device in such relation to the back support that the pressures exerted by the bathei thereagainst are substantially balanced, thus aiding in the complete relaxation of the bather resting against the device. Also, the underwater portion of the device is so constructed that the agitated water has substantially free access to the back of the bather.

A yfurther object of the invention lis to provide a bathtub rest which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable bathtub rest, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is desi-gned.

These objects are accomplished by means Iof such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation lof the improved bathtub rest, as positioned in a tub for use.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side View, of the bathtub rest, taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1; the view showing, in full lines, the device in its initial position. The position of the device assumed when engaged by an occupant of the bathtub and reclining against the rest being indicated in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged cross section taken substantially =on lines 3 3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and t-o the characters `of reference marked thereon, the bathtub rest comprises a lower frame and back rest portion indicated generally at 1, and which consists of parallel side posts 2 connected at the bottom by a cross bar 3 adapted to initially rest on the bottom Iof a conventional bathtub 4; said cross bar 3 'being preferably sheathed in a sleeve 5 of rubber or the like so as to prevent the finish `of the tub from being marred by contact with the metal of the cross bar 3.

Other cross bars I6, 7 and 8 connect the side posts 2 in vertic-ally spaced relation upwardly from the bottom 3,210,775 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 JCC cross bar 3; the spaces between the bars 3 and 6, and the bars 7 and 8, being covered 'by wide-mesh screening 9, -or by suitable foraminous sheet metal or other material, which will not only serve as a back engaging support but will yalso brace the structure while allowing water to flow freely therethrough.

Also, -the various cross bars are formed with a gentle curve from end to end in a rearward direction or away from the front or bather-engaging face :of the back rest, so as to conform generally to the transverse curvature of the back of a bather reclining against said back rest.

The lower frame and back rest portion 1 of the device, as above described, may be materially narrower than the bathtub 4 and is of `a height less than that of the tub. Rigid with and pr-ojecting laterally `out from the side posts 2 immediately above the cross bar 8 are extensions -10 which terminate just short of the sides `of the tub 4. Formed with and projecting upwardly and Ithen forwardly from the outer ends of the extensions 10 are rigid curved arms 11, which at their forward ends terminate in trunnions 12 which project laterally out to overlie the top surface 13 of the tub 4 at the sides thereof; said trunnions being sheathed in tubprotecting and non-slip sleeves 14.

The bathtub rest is thus supported from the top of the bathtub; the height of the device from the trunnions 12 to the bottom cross bar 3 being such that said 'bar then rests on the bottom lof the tub and maintains the portion 1 of the device at a rearward angle from its lower end upwardly, as shown in FIG. 2.

Also, the distribution of weight of the device relative to the trunnions is such that if said device is suspended from the trunnions, it will hang at substantially the angle shown. By reason lof this fact, it will be seen that while the back rest, when mounted in the bathtub, `cannot possibly swing 4back `from its normal angled position therein, relatively slight pressure applied at the proper point will be Asufficient to swing the device forwardly about the trunnions 12 as a fulcrum.

Some distance rearwardly from the trunnions 12, the .arms 11 at the -t-op are each provided with an eye 15 projecting laterally inward. The eyes 15 on opposite sides are detachably engaged, in swivel relation, by hooks 16 which project upwardly `from parallel rods 17 centrally between the ends of the latter. The rods are en- -closed in hems 18 provided at the sides of -a rectangular, transversely extending, flexible head-supporting pad 19 Iof imperforate water resistant material; the pad 19 thus spanning between the eyes 15 in connected relation.

In use, the device is disposed in the bathtub adjacent the head end thereof, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the bather, indicated at 20, can recline in the tub in an outstretched position. When the bathers back is in posi- -tion for contact with a portion of the back rest material 9, the -head will be in position to rest on the pad 19. Because of the high position of the pad 19 on the device, the bathers head will be well clear of the water in the tub; said pad swinging and exing as may be necessary to properly accommodate it to the bathers head resting thereon. With the relaxed weight of the head bearing down :on the pad 19, there -is a tendency for such head weight -or pressure to swing the lower portion 1 of the device forwardly about the trunnions 12 as a fulcrum and against the 'back of the bather. The head and back pressures will thence balance each other, enabling the bather to lie in a completely relaxed condition and so that the maximum benets of the hydraulic massage will be obtained; it being understood that a water swirling Ior agitating device of suitable character is disposed to act on the water in the bathtub.

The trunnion covering sleeves 14 being of non-slip material, ythere is no tendency for the device to slide back along the tub when the bather leans against said device. Also, the arms 11 are of large enough diameter to enable the bather'to grasp and hang onto the same when changing position relative to the device, should this be found desirable.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device Vas substantially fulfills t-he objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A back rest accessory, for a bathtub, comprising a substantially rectangular frame portion adapted to be disposed in a bathtub transversely and to initially rest on the bottom thereof, a back-engaging member mounted on and extending across said frame portion, and means rigid with the frame portion to support the same from the top surface of the bathtub so that said frame portion will be disposed at a rearward and upward angle to the bottom of the tub; said means including laterally projecting trunnions rigid with the frame portion adapted to overlie and rockably engage said top surface of the bathtub at the sides thereof.

2. A back rest accessory, for a bathtub, comprising a substantially rectangular frame portion adapted to be disposed in a bathtub transversely and to initially rest on the bottom thereof, a back-engaging member mounted on and extending across said frame portion, means rigid with the frame portion to support the same from the top surface of the bathtub so that said frame portion will be disposed at a rearward and upward angle to the bottom of the tub, a transverse flexible head-engaging pad above the frame portion, and means mounting the pad in connection with the frame portion for swivel movement relative thereto.

3. A back rest accessory, for a bathtub, comprising a substantially rectangular frame portion adapted to be disposed in a bathtub transversely and to initially rest on the bottom thereof, a back-engaging member mounted on and extending across said frame portion, arms curving upwardly and then forwardly from and rigid with the frame portion at the sides thereof, and trunnions projecting laterally out from the forward ends of the arms and ladapted to rest on the top surface of the bathtub at the sides thereof; the trunnions being disposed relative to the frame portion so that the latter at its lower end will rest on the bottom of the bathtub and will be then disposed at a rearward and upward angle from said lower end.

4. An accessory, as in claim 3, with a transversely extending head engaging pad, and means securing the pad at its .sides in swivel connection with the arms adjacent the top thereof and rearwardly from the trunnions.

5. An accessory, as in claim 4, in which said securing means comprises eyes on and projecting laterally inward from the arms, rods mounted in the pad at the sides thereof, and lhooks `on the rods intermediate the ends thereof swivelly engaging the eyes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,206 12/91 Welles.

987,646 3/11 Schmidt 4-185 1,006,381 10/11 Hess 4-185 2,503,145 4/50 Zukor 4-185 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BACK REST ACCESSORY, FOR A BATHTUB, COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME PORTION ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN A BATHTUB TRANSVERSELY AND TO INTIALLY REST ON THE BOTTOM THEREOF, A BACK-ENGAGING MEMBER MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID FRAME PORTION, AND MEANS RIGID WITH THE FRAME PORTION TO SUPPORT THE SAME FROM THE TOP SURFACE OF THE BATHTUB SO THAT SAID FRAME PORTION WILL BE DISPOSED AT A REARWARD AND UPWARD ANGLE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TUB; SAID MEANS INCLUDING LATERALLY PROJECTING TRUNNIONS RIGID WITH THE FRAME PORTION ADAPTED TO OVERLIE AND ROCKABLY ENGAGE SAID TOP SURFACE OF THE BATHTUB AT THE SIDES THEREOF. 